Sportblog + World Twenty20 | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog+worldtwenty20
model.DotcomContentType$TagIndex$@5595c236en-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2018Thu, 24 May 2018 20:05:36 GMT2018-05-24T20:05:36Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2018The Guardianhttps://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttps://www.theguardian.com
Ben Stokes avoids scapegoat status as England's collective strength shines through | The Spinhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/05/ben-stokes-england-world-twenty-20-the-spin
<p>Carlos Brathwaite provided a World T20 finale to be celebrated but England have much to revel in too, as the backing for Ben Stokes demonstrated</p><p>Wonderfully devastating, hideously marvellous, beautifully grotesque, savagely delightful, the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/03/west-indies-win-world-t20-final-carlos-brathwaite-sinks-england">final moments of the Twenty20 World Cup</a> were ludicrously, inconceivably, awesomely dramatic. The final’s finale was undeniably vicious but also, for all that, gorgeous, like standing in front of Van Gogh’s Starry Night when it suddenly develops arms and fists and clobbers your helpless self about the head, leaving you dazed and bewildered, dribbling senselessly on the floor, wracked simultaneously by pain and – weirdly, unfathomably – exhilaration.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/england-world-twenty20-final-pain-west-indies-ben-stokes-cricket">England can learn from World Twenty20 final pain – and be better for it | Vic Marks</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/05/ben-stokes-england-world-twenty-20-the-spin">Continue reading...</a>England cricket teamBen StokesWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportTue, 05 Apr 2016 12:58:15 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/05/ben-stokes-england-world-twenty-20-the-spinPhotograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty ImagesSimon Burnton2016-04-05T12:58:15ZEngland can learn from World Twenty20 final pain – and be better for it | Vic Markshttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/england-world-twenty20-final-pain-west-indies-ben-stokes-cricket
England are hurting after a traumatic defeat to West Indies but while the scars will linger for Ben Stokes and co, they have the talent and character to rise again<p>It was as if the scriptwriters of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/the-archers" title="">The Archers</a> had taken a sabbatical in India to oversee the World Twenty20. Melodrama became the norm in this tournament, with a succession of last-over finishes that left onlookers gasping for breath, and players either with shellshocked heads in sweat-drenched hands or dancing ecstatically around outfields glistening with dew.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/world-twenty20-2016-awards">World Twenty20 2016: tournament awards | Dan Lucas</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/03/west-indies-win-world-t20-final-carlos-brathwaite-sinks-england">West Indies win World T20 final as Carlos Brathwaite sinks England</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/england-world-twenty20-final-pain-west-indies-ben-stokes-cricket">Continue reading...</a>England cricket teamBen StokesTrevor BaylissEoin MorganWest Indies cricket teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportMon, 04 Apr 2016 20:43:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/england-world-twenty20-final-pain-west-indies-ben-stokes-cricketPhotograph: Bikas Das/APPhotograph: Bikas Das/APVic Marks in Kolkata2016-04-04T20:43:00ZDarren Sammy delivers diplomatic masterclass after World T20 triumph | Vic Markshttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/darren-sammy-west-indies-world-twenty20
West Indies’ captain has forged a team of champions by uniting some tricky characters from different nations<p>It was one of those nights when the man hosting the presentation ceremony, who happened to be Nasser Hussain, barely earned his corn. He had only to ask Darren Sammy one question and the victorious West Indies captain was up and away.</p><p>Sammy thanked the Almighty and then berated Mark Nicholas (please do not get this pair confused) before going on to castigate his own board, which had been rather slower than anyone else in the Caribbean to send support and then congratulations for a stunning victory.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/england-world-twenty20-final-pain-west-indies-ben-stokes-cricket">England can learn from World Twenty20 final pain – and be better for it | Vic Marks</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/darren-sammy-west-indies-world-twenty20">Continue reading...</a>West Indies cricket teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportMon, 04 Apr 2016 19:03:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/darren-sammy-west-indies-world-twenty20Photograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesPhotograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesVic Marks in Kolkata2016-04-04T19:03:00ZWorld Twenty20 2016: tournament awards | Dan Lucashttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/world-twenty20-2016-awards
<p>From West Indies’ brilliance to Afghanistan’s charm and the shackling of the associate nations, we look back at the standout moments from India</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/03/ben-stokes-carlos-brathwaite-england">Ben Stokes sees his world collapse after Carlos Brathwaite’s T20 blast | Mike Selvey</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/world-twenty20-2016-awards">Continue reading...</a>World Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportMon, 04 Apr 2016 10:07:47 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/04/world-twenty20-2016-awardsPhotograph: Jan Kruger-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesPhotograph: Jan Kruger-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesDan Lucas2016-04-04T10:07:47ZBen Stokes sees his world collapse after Carlos Brathwaite’s T20 blast | Mike Selveyhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/03/ben-stokes-carlos-brathwaite-england
<p>Nobody seemed more suited to bowling England’s final over than their young star but it will take time to come to terms with what happened next</p><p>Nineteen. N-n-n-n-nineteen, for those old enough to remember Paul Hardcastle. Nineteen runs to defend in the final over of the competition and the World Twenty20 trophy would be in England’s hands. Ben Stokes&nbsp;to bowl it, a young player gaining&nbsp;a reputation as a reliable “death” bowler.</p><p>There is a story of a footballer waiting to take a late decisive penalty in a vital match. “ I wouldn’t like to be in his boots now,” said the commentator. “I would,” responded the watching George Best. That is Stokes. If Eoin Morgan had tried to pull a left-field masterstroke and give the ball to someone else, Stokes would have snatched it away, told the captain what he thought of it and marched to his mark. It is precisely for that sort of situation, he will tell you, that he plays the game.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/03/west-indies-win-world-t20-five-talking-points">West Indies win World T20: Five talking points from the final against England</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/03/ben-stokes-carlos-brathwaite-england">Continue reading...</a>England cricket teamBen StokesWest Indies cricket teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportSun, 03 Apr 2016 21:03:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/03/ben-stokes-carlos-brathwaite-englandPhotograph: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesMike Selvey2016-04-03T21:03:00ZWest Indies win World T20: Five talking points from the final against England | Dan Lucashttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/03/west-indies-win-world-t20-five-talking-points
West Indies are T20’s first great international side, Eoin Morgan cannot afford to be a non-scoring captain, Darren Sammy makes his point with exquisite timing<p>When Darren Sammy called heads and the fates conspired to agree with him there was a collective groan from England fans. West Indies’ win duly extends the correlation between winning the toss and winning the match to 18 from 24 since the start of the Super 10 stage. The writing appeared to be on the wall at the halfway point, with England looking as if they did not know what a good total would be.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/03/west-indies-win-world-t20-five-talking-points">Continue reading...</a>West Indies cricket teamEngland cricket teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportSun, 03 Apr 2016 18:47:36 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/03/west-indies-win-world-t20-five-talking-pointsPhotograph: Saurabh Das/APPhotograph: Saurabh Das/APDan Lucas2016-04-03T18:47:36ZAndrew Strauss the inspiration behind England’s Eden project | Vic Markshttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/02/andrew-strauss-england-world-t20-final-west-indies
Appointing Trevor Bayliss as coach and allowing Eoin Morgan to mould his team has turned England from laughing-stock to World T20 finalists against West Indies<p>If Eoin Morgan were to raise the World T20 trophy into the night sky of Kolkata it would mark an astonishing transformation. Twelve months ago, as England’s cricketers were limping home from the 50-over World Cup, having failed to make the quarter-finals, they were a source of ridicule. With victory over West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday they can be a legitimate source of wonder. Even if Darren Sammy’s cavalier old side win it is still possible to see an exciting way ahead for England’s one-day teams.</p><p>Andrew Strauss deserves credit here. As a batsman the impression was of a Test specialist, who notched up 100 caps, a batting average over 40 and an Ashes victory in Australia. His one-day record was highly presentable, though, for such a cloth-batted player, but he would struggle to get a game now even in the 50-over set-up. No doubt Strauss recognised his own limitations as a white-ball cricketer. But upon his appointment as cricket director he was even more clear-headed about the constant under-achievement of England in the shorter forms of the game. At last there was more than lip-service to the idea of an upheaval of England’s one-day cricket.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/02/england-teams-embracing-fun-emma-john">England teams are embracing fun so let’s not overburden them with hype | Emma John</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/02/england-west-indies-world-twenty20-final-eoin-morgan">England v West Indies World T20 final will not be normal, says Eoin Morgan</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/02/chris-gayle-west-indies-twenty20-england">Chris Gayle aiming to help West Indies old guard go out on World T20 high</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/02/andrew-strauss-england-world-t20-final-west-indies">Continue reading...</a>England cricket teamAndrew StraussWest Indies cricket teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportSat, 02 Apr 2016 19:00:11 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/02/andrew-strauss-england-world-t20-final-west-indiesPhotograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesPhotograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesVic Marks in Kolkata2016-04-02T19:00:11ZEngland teams are embracing fun so let’s not overburden them with hype | Emma Johnhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/02/england-teams-embracing-fun-emma-john
The revival of England’s cricket, football and rugby union sides is testament to a new fearlessness and we should not hinder them with excessive expectations<p>England needed one run to beat New Zealand. A single run, from 18 balls. That’s the T20 equivalent of reaching the last 100m a lap ahead of your rival. The kind of lead where you could roly-poly your way down the home straight, stop just before the line for a sip of tea and still win.</p><p>All the man on strike had to do was nudge the ball along the ground, anywhere in the large, open outfield of the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, and trot a luxurious single. That’s what most batsmen would do. It’s what most England players of the past would do. However, Jos Buttler stepped back, spread his legs, and hoisted the ball over the mid-on boundary. It was a show of finesse, of power and of devil-may-care in one.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/02/england-teams-embracing-fun-emma-john">Continue reading...</a>England cricket teamEnglandEngland rugby union teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportFootballRugby unionSat, 02 Apr 2016 11:02:42 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/02/england-teams-embracing-fun-emma-johnPhotograph: Getty ImagesPhotograph: Getty ImagesEmma John2016-04-02T11:02:42ZWest Indies join the dots on path to the World Twenty20 final | Vithushan Ehantharajahhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/01/west-indies-darren-sammy-world-t20-final-england
Darren Sammy’s side have faced the highest percentage of dot balls from the Super-10 stage onwards but they are more than making up for that with fours and sixes aplenty<p>Ah, the dot ball. With only 120 legal deliveries in a Twenty20 innings, the value of the dot has risen enough to command its own column on modern-day scorecards. The majority of short-form batting coaches across the world agree on one thing: there is no excuse for letting them happen. The team analysts, by and large, agree.</p><p>However, West Indies have taken conventional wisdom and smashed it to bits. They have faced the highest percentage of dot balls of the teams in the Super-10 stage of the World T20– a rather staggering 45.4%. Including<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/31/west-indies-india-world-twenty20-report" title=""> the semi-final against India</a>, they have failed to score off 259 balls across five matches. But what they cede in dots, they more than make up in fours and sixes. Against India, their scoreless 47 balls were put into perspective by 146 of their 190 runs off the bat coming in boundaries. A target of 192 was made to look 20 short.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/31/west-indies-india-world-twenty20-report">West Indies’ Lendl Simmons seizes chance to sink India and seal final slot</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/01/west-indies-darren-sammy-world-t20-final-england">Continue reading...</a>West Indies cricket teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportFri, 01 Apr 2016 21:00:11 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/01/west-indies-darren-sammy-world-t20-final-englandPhotograph: Rafiq Maqbool/APPhotograph: Rafiq Maqbool/APVithushan Ehantharajah in Kolkata2016-04-01T21:00:11ZWest Indies present England with a dangerous and canny foe in T20 final | Vic Markshttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/01/west-indies-england-dangerous-foe-cricket-world-t20-final
Darren Sammy retains the knack of galvanising some magnificent white-ball cricketers buzzing at the prospect of becoming World Twenty20 champions<p>This is not the final the World Twenty20 hosts craved or expected: it may be the one preferred by England, who had the luxury of getting comfortable in Kolkata while <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/31/west-indies-india-world-twenty20-report" title="">India and West Indies were delivering yet another mini-epic</a> in a tournament that has been producing more heart-stopping close shaves than Sweeney Todd.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/01/england-west-indies-world-twenty20-final-eoin-morgan-kolkata">England v West Indies: how the teams rate before the World Twenty20 final</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/oct/07/sri-lanka-west-indies-world-twenty20-final">West Indies 137-6; Sri Lanka 101 | World Twenty20 final match report</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/01/england-cricket-world-cup-and-world-twenty20-finals-youtube-special">England in cricket World Cup and World Twenty20 finals – YouTube special</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/01/west-indies-england-dangerous-foe-cricket-world-t20-final">Continue reading...</a>West Indies cricket teamEngland cricket teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportFri, 01 Apr 2016 14:52:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/01/west-indies-england-dangerous-foe-cricket-world-t20-finalPhotograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesPhotograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesVic Marks in Kolkata2016-04-01T14:52:12ZIndia v Bangladesh showed vitality of a World T20 where every game mattershttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/24/india-bangladesh-world-t20
The compelling matches seen in India reflect the simplicity of a format from which the 50-over World Cup could learn, if its organisers could temper the desire for short-term cash-grabbing<p>A public holiday and a rest for the men in the World Twenty20 tournament coincided happily. The nation needed time to recover from a&nbsp;“heart‑stopping win” (<a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-t20/india-hold-nerve-to-beat-bangladesh-by-1-run-in-world-t20/story-b1v7DwfFl7jYDR2Lwnm22H.html" title="">Hindustan Times</a>). No, this was not a reference to Eoin Morgan’s England <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/23/england-afghanistan-world-twenty20-match-report" title="">scraping to victory by 15 runs against Afghanistan</a>.</p><p>Most people expect India to win the tournament here. With three balls remaining in Bangalore on Wednesday night they were on the verge of defeat to Bangladesh, which in all probability would have debarred their passage to the semi-finals. Bangladesh needed two runs to win, one to ensure a Super&nbsp;Over. Whereupon incredibly and, to the delirium of millions of fans glued to their TV sets, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/23/india-beat-bangladesh-stunning-world-twenty20-finish" title="">three wickets fell to the last three balls of the game</a>.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/24/england-sri-lanka-paul-farbrace-world-twenty20">Paul Farbrace admits England need complete performance against Sri Lanka</a> </p><p>The World Cup in England in 2019, currently scheduled for ten teams, could expand to 12 or just possibly 14 nations</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/24/india-bangladesh-world-t20">Continue reading...</a>World Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportThu, 24 Mar 2016 11:25:24 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/24/india-bangladesh-world-t20Photograph: Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty ImagesVic Marks2016-03-24T11:25:24ZSluggish pitches proving a mixed blessing at the World Twenty20 | Mike Selveyhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/23/world-t20-sluggish-pitches-harm-womens-game
Slow, turning pitches have produced some excellent men’s matches but the women’s game has suffered at a time when it has global exposure<p>England got themselves in a mess of their own temperamental making in Delhi, bailed out by the lower order and the bowlers. Maybe they saw demons where there were none. The pitch looked nothing like the turner that a glance at the scoreboard might suggest. Indeed, their reading of the surface seemed spot-on, with the paceman Reece Topley replaced by another, Liam Plunkett, rather than Dawson, a spinner. On another day, maybe when England play Sri Lanka, the venue will surely see the runs that the pitch merited.</p><p>The World Twenty20 has found out more than a few batsmen. Slow, turning pitches at some – not all – grounds have flummoxed those who are used to hitting through the line secure in the knowledge that the ball will come on to the bat nicely and deviate little. Batsmen, after all, are the T20 cocks-of-the-walk. But these muscular denizens with their fast hands and forgiving blades have fumbled and groped as the ball has nipped this way and that, hard-handed simplistic techniques exposed. It has brought criticism, of course, but erroneously in my view, at least in part, about more of which in a moment.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/23/world-t20-sluggish-pitches-harm-womens-game">Continue reading...</a>World Twenty20England cricket teamNew Zealand cricket teamTwenty20England women's cricket teamWomen's cricketCricketSportWed, 23 Mar 2016 20:04:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/23/world-t20-sluggish-pitches-harm-womens-gamePhotograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesPhotograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesMike Selvey2016-03-23T20:04:00ZAfghanistan’s 13-year journey to cricket’s top table deserves greater reward | Andy Bullhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/22/afghanistan-cricket-world-twenty20-the-spin
In rising to become worthy and watchable World T20 competitiors, Afghanistan have done ‘what other nations couldn’t do in 30-40 years’. They deserve more opportunities against Test-playing nations<p>In May 2003, 14 teams gathered at the Chaman-i-Hozori maidan in downtown Kabul for the very first Afghan national cricket trials. Some players had come from far parts, from Khost, in the east, and Kandahar, in the south, as word spread by mouth among the country’s small community of cricket players that a tournament was being organised by the Afghan Cricket Federation, and that the best players would be picked for the new U17, U19, and senior national teams. The federation had been formed in 1995, and was being run by two men, Allah Dad and Taj Malik. Malik had recently returned to Afghanistan from the vast Kacha Garhi refugee camp outside Peshawar. He came back with the express intention of setting up an Afghan national team and leading them to the World Cup.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/21/afghanistan-england-world-t20-india">World T20: Spinning conditions lie in wait as England arrive in Delhi</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/22/afghanistan-cricket-world-twenty20-the-spin">Continue reading...</a>Afghanistan cricket teamWorld Twenty20CricketSportTue, 22 Mar 2016 13:03:53 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/22/afghanistan-cricket-world-twenty20-the-spinPhotograph: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty ImagesAndy Bull2016-03-22T13:03:53ZNo respite for callow England as South Africa and AB de Villiers awaithttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/17/england-south-africa-world-t20-ab-de-villiers-jos-buttler-preview
After being blown away by Chris Gayle on Wednesday, England’s young side remain chipper but their next challenge is every bit as stiff<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/16/chris-gayle-hammers-england-with-century-for-west-indies-at-world-t20" title="">On Wednesday it was Chris Gayle</a>; it will be AB de Villiers. There is no obvious respite on the horizon for England’s young bowlers. There is not much time to ruminate and none to feel sorry for oneself or fretful about taking on a powerful South African side.</p><p>As Jos Buttler, the vice-captain, a relative veteran at the age of 25 and the rare English owner of a lucrative IPL contract, pointed out in a pre-match interview that was bound to be positive: “That’s tournament cricket. If we lose one game and win five in a row and win the World Cup we’ll be happy with that.”</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/14/world-t20-2016-team-guide">World Twenty20 2016: team-by-team guide | Ali Martin</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/17/england-south-africa-world-t20-ab-de-villiers-jos-buttler-preview">Continue reading...</a>England cricket teamSouth Africa cricket teamAB de VilliersChris GayleJos ButtlerWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportThu, 17 Mar 2016 15:03:49 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/17/england-south-africa-world-t20-ab-de-villiers-jos-buttler-previewPhotograph: Danish Siddiqui/ReutersPhotograph: Danish Siddiqui/ReutersVic Marks in Mumbai2016-03-17T15:03:49ZICC's World T20 plan leaves Ireland, Netherlands and co as mere footnote | Andy Bullhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/15/iccs-world-t20-plan-leaves-ireland-netherlands-and-co-as-mere-footnote
<p>Preservation of the most successful nations at the top of the game is irking those scrapping below – where getting your voice heard is a challenge in itself</p><p>For all its accomplishments, it seems there are still one or two little things the International Cricket Council struggles with. Like staging major international events, and supporting the development of the sport around the world. Which is unfortunate, since these are really the only two things it needs to do, and essentially comprise all four components of the ICC’s official ‘mission statement’:<br></p><p>Provide a world class environment for international cricket</p><p> Deliver ‘major’ events across three formats</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/mar/15/india-v-new-zealand-world-twenty20-live">India v New Zealand: World Twenty20 – live!</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/15/iccs-world-t20-plan-leaves-ireland-netherlands-and-co-as-mere-footnote">Continue reading...</a>Ireland Cricket TeamScotland Cricket TeamNetherlands cricket teamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportTue, 15 Mar 2016 13:42:28 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/15/iccs-world-t20-plan-leaves-ireland-netherlands-and-co-as-mere-footnotePhotograph: Matthew Lewis/IDI via Getty ImagesPhotograph: Matthew Lewis/IDI via Getty ImagesAndy Bull2016-03-15T13:42:28ZWorld Twenty20 2016: team-by-team guide | Ali Martinhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/14/world-t20-2016-team-guide
From Afghan seamers to West Indian hitters, the inside story on the 10 protagonists who will line up in India over the coming three weeks<p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/11/the-joy-of-six-great-world-twenty20-t20-cricket-innings">The Joy of Six: great World Twenty20 cricket innings | John Ashdown</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/14/world-t20-2016-team-guide">Continue reading...</a>World Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportSouth Africa cricket teamEngland cricket teamAustralia cricket teamAustralia sportPakistan cricket teamWest Indies cricket teamIndia cricket teamSri Lanka cricket teamNew Zealand cricket teamBangladesh Cricket TeamAfghanistan cricket teamMon, 14 Mar 2016 13:32:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/14/world-t20-2016-team-guidePhotograph: Christopher Lee-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesPhotograph: Christopher Lee-IDI/IDI via Getty ImagesAli Martin2016-03-14T13:32:03ZThe Joy of Six: great World Twenty20 cricket innings | John Ashdownhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/11/the-joy-of-six-great-world-twenty20-t20-cricket-innings
<p>From two top knocks in the tournament’s first match to Yuvraj Singh’s sixes and Misbah-ul-Haq’s glorious failures, half a dozen brilliant World T20 hits</p><p>Given their track record of failure in short forms of the game both before and after 2010, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/09/england-won-2010-world-twenty20-cricket">England’s victory in the Caribbean</a> seems like it couldn’t possibly have happened. The time continuum must have been disrupted, creating a new temporal event sequence resulting in an alternate reality in which Biff is corrupt, powerful, and married to your mother, and England are World Twenty20 champions. But, with help from Grays Sports Almanac or not, it did happen. Kevin Pietersen was key, scoring 248 runs in his six games at a strike-rate close to 140: <a href="http://www.icc-cricket.com/world-t20/videos/media/id/df909c4a3b7f4195a855d85a1be9b93f/kevin-pietersens-73-v-pakistan-wt20-2010">73 from 52 balls</a> in the opening Super 8s game against Pakistan as England chased down 147 to win; 53 from 33 against South Africa in a victory that took them into the semi-finals; 42 from 26 in that semi-final against Sri Lanka as England again chased down victory.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2013/aug/16/the-joy-of-six-sixes">The Joy of Six: sixes</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/jan/15/the-joy-of-six-run-outs">The Joy of Six: run-outs</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/apr/01/the-joy-of-six-world-twenty20">The Joy of Six: World Twenty20</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/11/the-joy-of-six-great-world-twenty20-t20-cricket-innings">Continue reading...</a>World Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportKevin PietersenBrendon McCullumAustralia cricket teamSouth Africa cricket teamIndia cricket teamPakistan cricket teamEngland cricket teamAustralia sportWest Indies cricket teamFri, 11 Mar 2016 10:00:30 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/11/the-joy-of-six-great-world-twenty20-t20-cricket-inningsPhotograph: Getty ImagesPhotograph: Getty ImagesJohn Ashdown2016-03-11T10:00:30ZMustafizur Rahman: the statistically freaky bowler with an even freakier gift | Barney Ronayhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/04/mustafizur-rahman-bowler-bangladesh-world-twenty20
<p>The Bangladeshi blessed with a flappy wrist has enjoyed a sensational eight-month rise, and he is about to be unleashed on unwitting batsmen at the World Twenty20 – just don’t listen to talk of an injury</p><p>Would you like to hear my totally baseless <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/worldtwenty20" title="">World Twenty20</a>-related conspiracy theory about Bangladesh’s “mystery” medium-pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman? The answer to this question is almost certainly: “No, no thank you, I’m fine thanks.” But I’m going to tell you it anyway.</p><p>So: how about that Mustafizur Rahman? A shy, skinny left-armer from a village near Satkhira on the south-west border, Mustafizur has enjoyed a sensational eight-month rise. Check out the stats, stats fans. To date Mustafizur has bowled a total of 824 balls in international cricket. Including consecutive five-fors in his first two ODIs, his cross-format wicket haul now stands at 43 at 14 runs apiece. At last month’s IPL auction he was bought for £150,000 by the Sunrisers Hyderabad.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/22/england-world-t20-south-africa">England need to recuperate, then recover their attacking intent for T20</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/04/mustafizur-rahman-bowler-bangladesh-world-twenty20">Continue reading...</a>Bangladesh Cricket TeamWorld Twenty20Twenty20CricketSportFri, 04 Mar 2016 14:40:33 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/mar/04/mustafizur-rahman-bowler-bangladesh-world-twenty20Illustration: Paul ThurlbyIllustration: Paul ThurlbyBarney Ronay2016-03-04T14:40:33ZLiam Plunkett: ‘Why can’t I go out and win games for England?’https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/01/liam-plunkett-england-world-t20-the-spin
The Yorkshire pace bowler admits being in England’s squad but not the team can be frustrating and is eager to prove himself a match-winner in the World T20<p>A long-distance relationship leads Liam Plunkett to spend much of his life away from cricket in Philadelphia and it was there, at 4.30am on Friday morning, where he received the text message that would see his winter plans change once again.</p><p>The national selector, James Whitaker, was asking for a call back, in which he would confirm that Plunkett’s fellow quick Steven Finn was to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/26/steven-finn-ruled-out-england-squad-world-twenty-20-india" title="">miss the upcoming World Twenty20</a> in India because of a left calf strain suffered on the road back from a left-side strain, and thus a seat on the plane was his.</p><p>I'm at the stage now where if I don’t get picked, I will ask the question</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/01/liam-plunkett-england-world-t20-the-spin">Continue reading...</a>England cricket teamCricketWorld Twenty20SportTue, 01 Mar 2016 11:10:18 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/01/liam-plunkett-england-world-t20-the-spinPhotograph: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesAli Martin2016-03-01T11:10:18ZTrevor Bayliss issues coded warnings to underperforming England playershttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/feb/15/trevor-bayliss-england-world-t20-warning-south-africa
On the eve of the World T20, the coach points out that catches need to be taken and batsmen need to find a consistency of performance or they will be replaced<p>To lose three one-day internationals in succession looks to go beyond carelessness. It is certainly exasperating; it could even lead to despair, which is not a great emotion to have less than a month before the World T20 in India.</p><p>Not that despair is justified. A year ago it was. Then England were participating – rather than competing – in the last ICC tournament (the 50-over World Cup in Australasia). And, of course, they were dreadful, beating Scotland and Afghanistan but losing to everyone else. They froze <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/09/england-crash-out-cricket-world-cup-bangladesh" title="">in the critical match against Bangladesh</a>, which meant that they could not even make the last eight. In that context there is plenty to be cheerful about now.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/14/south-africa-england-fifth-odi-match-report">AB de Villiers century leads South Africa to 3-2 series win over England</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/feb/15/trevor-bayliss-england-world-t20-warning-south-africa">Continue reading...</a>England cricket teamEngland in South Africa 2015-2016Eoin MorganTrevor BaylissWorld Twenty20CricketSportMon, 15 Feb 2016 13:24:19 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/feb/15/trevor-bayliss-england-world-t20-warning-south-africaPhotograph: Julian Finney/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Julian Finney/Getty ImagesVic Marks in Cape Town2016-02-15T13:24:19Z